BOU AVENUEOthello TunnelsOn our way to Penticton
from Squamish, Kelly Wood and I stopped near Hope, British Columbia to visit
the Othello
Tunnels. Part of the historic Kettle Valley Railway (KVR),
the tunnels are situated in a formidable gorge carved out by the Coquihalla
River. The tunnels and the accompanying bridges are simply a marvel
to behold; we could easily appreciate the difficulties faced by the engineers
who constructed them.

After walking through all the tunnels, we continued hiking along the
KVR for a short while before returning via the Hope-Nicola Valley Trail.
This trail, which seemingly goes nowhere in particular and has very
few merits, climbs about 200 metres to a viewless, forested col before dropping
down the other side into a maze of side-trails and old, logging roads. Despite
some tricky route-finding, we eventually made our way back to the trailhead.

Kelly reads the interpretive sign beside
the entrance to the first tunnel.

The rock face above the entrance to the
second tunnel is most impressive.

The Othello Tunnels are a testament to
both human ingenuity and determination.

Kelly follows the KVR beyond the tunnels.

This sign is on a tree at the high point
of the Hope-Nicola Valley Trail.